The Republican National Committee is dispersing robocalls
about U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and the federal government shutdown to
Louisiana residents throughout the day today. The political organization has
targeted people who live near Landrieu's home and her local offices across the
state.

"These men and women served our country with honor and yet Sen. Landrieu would rather put partisan politics ahead of honoring our commitment to the people who defended this country," said a female voice identified as Erin during the robocall.

There has been an overarching
Republican strategy to continue funding popular, uncontroversial segments of the
government, like veteran's benefits, during the larger shutdown. The Republican-controlled
U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill seeking to pay out veterans benefits,
even if the government closure continues to drag.

Most Democrats, including those who control the U.S. Senate, have
rejected this approach, saying the government should not be opened on a
piecemeal basis. Either the shutdown ends or all non-essential services stay offline.

Landrieu is one of a few high-profile Democrats who are the
subject of robocalls today. The GOP has
also targeted DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Sen. Mark
Begich (D-Alaska), Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

The RNC perceives Landrieu to be vulnerable during her 2014 re-election campaign, in which she will face Cassidy. Even though the Senate race is more than a year away, the national GOP has already started to pour resources into Louisiana to fight Landrieu.